Brooke Obie Interviews ‘Black Panther’ Costume Designer Ruth Carter
From The GrioEver since Marvel dropped the release date for Black Panther, #BlackTwitter has been abuzz with one question: “How are you rolling up to the premiere?”
Thanks to trailers and promo photos showcasing the characters in rich and regal costumes it feels almost rude to show up to the theater without at least acknowledging with your dress the glory of what you’re about to experience.
That’s two-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s doing. Carter, who designed costumes for Black classics from School Daze and Malcolm X to Selma, is the designer helping to bring Black Panther’s home country of Wakanda to life on screen. And she made it count.
In Wakanda, there’s no monolithic Blackness. Each of the various ethnic groups in the country have their own customs and cultural dress that Carter brought to life. Inspired by the traditional dress of indigenous African ethnic groups, Carter matched the vibrant colors and powerful designs from the Xhousa, Maasai, Himba, Tuareg and more to create sacred images of multidimensional Black folk not previously seen in a film of this scale.
At the pre-show for the “Welcome to Wakanda” fashion presentation during New York Fashion Week, The Grio caught up with Carter to discuss why she had to be a part of this historic film that’s already breaking box office records before it’s even released.
Read the interview on TheGrio.
Check out these photos and recap of the New York Fashion Week show ‘Welcome to Wakanda’ on The Root.
Read all of Brooke’s ‘Black Panther’ pieces here.